Cooling liquid circulating system for engines



Sept. 16, 1958 J. D. TURLAY 2,852,009

coounc LIQUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM FOR ENGINES Filed Nov. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 055 21549 74 /43 ATTORNE Y5 Sept. 16, 1958 v J. D. TURLAY 2,852,009

COOLING LIQUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM FOR ENGINES Filed Nov. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Maggi/ E262 ATTORNEYS United States Patent COOLING LIQUID CDRCULATING SYSTEM FOR ENGINES Joseph D. Turlay, Flint, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application November 19, 1952, Serial No. 321,347

3 Claims. (Cl. 12341.1)

This invention relates to cooling liquid circulating systems for engines and has particular relation to a system which is especially applicable for use in V-type engines for automotive and other uses.

It has been customary heretofore to construct cooling liquid circulating systems employing cooling liquid circulating pumps mounted on thefront of a timing chain cover for V-type and other engines. In these systems the pump is usually driven by the fan shaft of the engine and has an inlet passage leading from the lowerpart of the engine radiator, a discharge passage supplying cooling liquid to each bank of cylinders of the engine and a by pass passage by which cooling liquid may be circulated within the engine when the engine thermostat closes the return passage leading from the engine to the radiator of the engine. In these circulating systems the passages leading to and from the pump, the inlet and discharge chambers for the pump and the pump impeller chamber complicate the various engine parts in which they are formed. The parts therefore are diflicult to form as castings are diflicult to finish, assemble and service and excessively increase the weight of, and cost of, the engine.

It is proposed to construct an engine cooling liquid circulating system in such manner that the parts will be light of weight, easy to assemble and service, and in which leakage of circulating fluid will be reduced to a minimum. It is also proposed to so construct the various parts of the engine involved in the circulating system that they may either be cast from iron or made as aluminum or other die castings.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of an engine employing a cooling liquid circulating system embracing the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front end elevational view of the engine disclosed by Figure l and having certain parts thereof broken away to better illustrate the various parts of the engine employed in the cooling liquid circulating system.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the engine employed in practicing the invention comprises an engine block 11 in which a pair of banks 12 of engine cylinders are formed in rows of cylinders disposed obliquely with respect to an intermediate plane through the axis of rotation of the engine. The engine 10 has a crankshaft 13 for operating the pistons in the cylinders of the engine. The crankshaft 13 also drives the engine camshaft 14 through a timing chain indicated at 16. The crankshaft 13 has a pulley 17 secured to the front end thereof which is adapted to drive a fan pulley 18 through a'V belt indicated at 19. The pulley 18 has a fan 21 mounted on the front end thereof which may be employed in circulating air for cooling the engine and the engine radiator. The pulley 18 is secured on a shaft 22 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 23 formed in a casing or cover 24 for a liquid circulating pump indicated generally at 26. The pump 26 has a rotatable centrifugal impeller 27 which is mounted ina depression 28 formed in the casing Patented Sept. 16, 1958 24 and in the front wall 29 of a timing chain cover 31. The timing chain cover 31 is removably secured by bolts 32 to the front wall of the block '11 of the engine '10. The casing 24 also is secured by bolts '32 to. the front wall 29 of a timing chain cover 31. The depression 28 which receives the impeller 27 includes-an annular inlet chamber 33 which is formed in the casing'24 around the shaft 22 of the impeller 27 and on the inlet side of the impeller 27. A seal 34 is disposed ina seal chamber 36 formed in the casing 24 between the bearing 23 and the impeller 27 for the purpose of preventing leakageof liquid from the inlet chamber .3 3 through the bearing 23. The inlet chamber 33 is formed in such a way as to provide an annular chamber surrounding the shaft 22. The annular inlet chamber 33 may be supplied with cooling liquid to be circulated by the pump 26 through an inlet passage 37 which is formed across one side of the cover 31 and partly between the front wall 29 thereof and a part of the front wall 38 of which the casing 24 is formed. The wall 38 entirely closes around the passage 37 adjacent the edge of the timing chain cover 31 to provide an inlet conduit 39 that projects outwardly beyond the timing chain cover 31 far enough to permit making a convenient connection with a hose coupling or other suitable conduit means by which the inlet passage 37 may be connected to the lower partof a radiator with which the engine 10 may be provided. The inner wall of the inlet conduit 39 is formed in such way as to provide a continuation of the flange 41 which is formed around the edge of the casing 24 and by which the casing 24 is secured upon a gasket indicated at 42, to the front wall 29 of the timing chain cover 31. It will be apparent that the part of the inlet passage 37 which is between the impeller 27 and the flange 41v is formed between the wall 38 of the casing 24 and the front wall 29 of the cover 31. The gasket .42 is formed around the sides of the inlet passage 37 and between the walls 38 and 27 is formed between the wall 43 of the impeller 27 and the wall 38 of the casing 24 and the spaced ends of the arcuate ledge 51. The arcuate ledge 51 terminates at the opposite sides of the passage 37 and at the outer edge of the wall 43. Formed between the hub 44 and the annular wall 43 and on the side of the wall 43 opposite the inlet chamber 33 is a plurality of radially disposed vanes 47 that centrifugally propel the cooling liquid supplied by the chamber 33 from the inlet side 46 of the impeller to the discharge side 48 of the impeller. The discharge side 48 of the impeller is adapted to deliver the liquid so propelled into discharge chamber means 49 which may be formed in the casings 31 and 24 around the outer periphery of the impeller 27. Between the inlet chamber 33 and the discharge chamber means 49 the front wall 38 of the casing 24 is formed in such manner as to provide a sealing ledge indicated at 51 having an edge terminating in closely spaced relation to the adjacent surface of the wall 43 and between the outer and inner peripheral edges of the wall 43. The rotation of the impeller 27 will tend to rotate the narrow annular body of liquid occupying the space between the ledgeSl and the adjacent surface of the wall 43 thereby pumping the liquid outwardly into the discharge chamber 49 and providing a centrifugally actuated seal for preventing the return flow of liquid from thedischarg'e chamber 49 tothe inlet chamber 33. The discharge chamber 49 may be formed as a single annular passage or cavity if this is desired or as a plurality of cavities or chambers indicated at 53 and 54. The chambers 53 and 54 may be formed as volute chambers in diametrically opposed relation to one another and each increasing in cross sectional area in the direction of rotation of the impeller 27 and from oppositely disposed sealing ledges 56 which are formed on the outer edge of the impeller wall 43 and the adjacent walls of the pump casing 24 and timing chain cover 31. The discharge ends of the chambers 53 and 54 extend outwardly beyond the space within the interior of the timing chain cover 31 and terminate in outlet passages 57 and 58 that extend longitudinally of the engine and the inner ends of which terminate at the inner edge of the timing chain cover 31 in the inlet openings extending through the cooling liquid jackets surrounding the banks of cylinders indicated at 12.

The timing chain cover wall 29 also is formed to provide a by-pass inlet chamber indicated at 59. The chamber 59 is formed in the upper part of the wall 29 and in such position as to communicate with the inlet side of the impeller 27 on the opposite side of the impeller from the inlet chamber 33. The by-pass inlet chamber 59 also is disposed within a radially extending and annular sealing ledge 61 which is formed on the wall 29 between the outer and inner extremities of the vanes 47 and which terminates in closely spaced relation to the edges of the vanes 47. The sealing ledge 61 therefore seals the pump 26 between the by-pass inlet chamber 59 and the discharge chamber means 49. The wall 29 also is formed to provide a by-pass inlet passage indicated at 62 and extending from the by-pass inlet chamber 59 to the upper end of the timing chain cover 31. The passage 62 preferably is disposed in the intermediate plane of the engine 10 which extends vertically through the crankshaft of the engine 10. The outer end of the passage 62 is surrounded by a concentrically disposed coupling flange 63 which is adapted to receive a coupling boss 64 formed beneath an engine thermostat chamber which is formed intermediate the ends of a cooling liquid manifold 67 extending across the front of the engine 10 above the timing chain cover 31. The manifold 67 has branches 68 each adapted to communicate with an outlet from one of the cooling liquid jackets formed around i 62 between the by-pass chamber 59 and the engine I thermostat chamber 66. The chamber 66 is adapted to receive a centrally disposed engine thermostat 72 having an expansible element 73 adapted to control the position of a valve 74 with respect to a valve closure wall or element 79 extending across the upper end of the chamber 66 and adapted to control the flow of cooling liquid from the chamber 66 to a cooling liquid return conduit 76. The cooling liquid return conduit has an enlarged end 77 which is disposed in opposed relation to the upper end of the chamber 66 and which is adapted to receive the movable element of the valve 74 when the valve opens. The return conduit 76 and the manifold 67 are provided with flange and gasket means indicated at 78 and adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured together upon the periphery of the wall 79 of the thermostat 72.

It will be apparent that when the valve 74 is closed it will not be possible to circulate cooling liquid between the engine and the engine radiator. Under such circumstances cooling liquid will be circulated from the upper to the lower parts of the cooling liquid jackets of the engine by the movement of liquid inwardly through the manifold branches 68 to the chamber 66, from the chamber 66 through the by-pass passages 62 and 71 and the by-pass chamber 59, through the impeller 27 to the discharge chamber means 49 and from the discharge chamber means 49 through the pump outlets 57 and 58 to the lower parts of the water jackets within the banks of cylinders indicated at 12.

When the engine thermostat: 72 is not closed it will be apparent that only a negligible amount of cooling liquid will flow into the impeller 27 from the by-pass inlet chamber 59 owing to the relatively restricted communication between the by-pass inlet chamber 59 and the inlet side of the impeller 27. The communication between the inlet chamber 33 and the inlet side of the impeller 27 is relatively unrestricted and under such circumstances practically all of the cooling liquid will be supplied to the impeller 27 through the annular opening within the impeller wall 43. When the cooling liquid is supplied to the impeller 27 principally from the inlet chamber 33 it will be apparent that the cooling liquid will be circulated between the engine and the engine radiator from the inlet passage 37 through the inlet chamber 33, the impeller 27, the discharge chamber means 49, the pump outlets 57 and 58, the water jackets of the engine, the manifold branches 68, the chamber 66 and the return conduit 76.

Cooling liquid to be employed for the purpose of heating a motor vehicle with which the engine 10 may be employed or for other purposes, also may be circulated by the pump 26. For such purposes the part of the timing switch cover wall 29 within the passage 37 may be formed to provide an inlet opening 81 which is also adapted to supply cooling liquid to the passage 37. The inlet opening 81 is formed at the end of an inlet passage 82 formed within the side walls of the timing chain cover 31 and extending externally of the timing chain cover 31 through an internally threaded passage indicated at 83. The passage 83 is adapted to have secured therein the coupling end 84 of a heating liquid circulating conduit indicated at 86. The conduit 86 may be connected to the cold liquid discharge of a heater or other device with which the vehicle or other structure operated by the engine 10 may be provided. The heating liquid inlet side of the heater or other device to be heated or cooled also may be connected to a heating liquid circulating conduit indicated at 87. The end of the conduit 87 may be provided with a coupling 88 adapted to be threaded into an internally threaded opening 89 formed in a side wall of the timing chain cover 31 and the inner end of which may project normally into the discharge passage 57 leading from the pump 26. It will be apparent that when the engine thermostat 72 is closed the heater will heat up very rapidly from hot liquid supplied by the by-pass leading to the impeller 27 from the chamber 66 communicating with the manifold branches 68. When the engine thermostat 72 opens it will be apparent that little liquid will be supplied to the heater through the conduit 87 due to the fact that the passage 89 projects normally into the discharge passage 57. To supply liquid to the heater under such circumstances the conduit 87 may be provided with a branch conduit opening into a bend at the end of one of the branch conduits 68 of the liquid manifold 67. The heater then will be supplied with heated liquid from the jacket of one of the engine blocks 12 and before this liquid is circulated through the engine radiator.

It will be noted from examining the drawing that the principal cavities forming the various passages and chambers of the pump 26 and the inner cavity within the timing chain cover 31 all are formed in such a way as to provide draft clearance on opposite sides of parallel planes disposed normally with respect to the axis of rotation of the engine. This makes possible the casting or die casting of the entire pump casing 24 and the timing chain cover 31 without resorting to the use of numerous internally disposed cores. This makes the parts not only more economical to manufacture but results in lighter welght parts and parts which are easier to assemble and to maintain in service during the operation of the engine.

I claim:

1. A cooling liquid circulating system for engines comprising an engine wall having a depression formed therein, a centrifugal impeller disposed in said depression, said centrifugal impeller being formed to provide a radially extending annular wall disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation of said impeller, means for driving said impeller for circulating cooling liquid employed in cooling said engine, a pump casing wall adapted to be secured to said engine wall around said depression and enclosing said impeller, said pump casing wall being formed to provide an annular cooling liquid inlet chamber disposed about the axis of rotation of said impeller and communicating with a centrally disposed opening within said impeller wall, said casing wall about said liquid inlet chamber being formed to provide an arcuate sealing ledge closely approaching said impeller wall and having spaced ends providing a passage across said impeller wall and except between the spaced ends thereof being disposed between said inlet chamber and the discharge side of said impeller, and an inlet passage for supplying cooling liquid to said inlet chamber, said inlet passage being formed to extend across said impeller wall between said ends of said sealing ledge and being formed by and between said casing wall and said impeller wall.

2. A cooling liquid circulating system for engines comprising a pump casing having a centrifugal impeller mounted therein, said centrifugal impeller being formed to provide a radially extending annular wall having impeller vanes mounted on one side thereof, a discharge chamber formed in said casing around the peripheral edge of said impeller and in radially outwardly disposed relation to the vanes on said impeller, an inlet chamber formed in said casing on the side of said casing adjacent the inner edge of said annular wall and on the opposite side of said annular wall from said impeller vanes, said casing being formed between said inlet and said discharge chambers to provide an arcuate sealing ledge disposed in closely spaced relation to said annular wall and having spaced ends providing a passage across said annular wall and except between the ends thereof being disposed between the inner and outer peripheral edges of said annular wall, inlet and outlet passages formed in said casing and leading to said inlet chamber and from said discharge chamber respectively, said inlet passage being formed in said casing to extend across said annular wall between said ends of said sealing ledge, and means for driving said impeller for circulating cooling liquid to and from said inlet and discharge passages in said casing.

3. A cooling liquid circulating system for engines comprising a timing chain cover having a cooling liquid circulating pump mounted on the front wall of said cover at the upper end thereof, a cooling liquid return manifold disposed above said timing chain cover and having an engine thermostat chamber formed therein, a vertically disposed passage formed in said manifold and said timing chain cover and extending between said thermostat chamber and the inlet side of said cooling liquid circulating pump, a concentrically disposed flange formed on said timing chain cover and around the part of said passage formed in said timing chain cover, a coupling member formed on said manifold beneath said thermostat chamber and around the part of said passage formed in said manifold, said coupling member being adapted to be disposed within said flange, a pair of oppositely disposed annular shoulders formed on said casing within said flange and on said member, and O ring disposed within said flange and between said shoulders, and means for operating said pump for pumping cooling liquid from said chamber when said thermostat restricts the circulation of cooling liquid through said manifold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,386,816 Vincent Aug. 9, 1921 1,461,711 Bull July 10, 1923 1,519,155 Moorhouse Dec. 16, 1924 1,766,858 Vincent June 24, 1930 2,157,597 Dupree May 9, 1939 2,186,080 Sheldrick Jan. 9, 1940 2,244,932 Anderson June 10, 1941 

